“I need an arm chain.” He replied.

  “I do not have any readymade, nor do I know anyone who does. Those are specialty items that require precise materials, ones your average adventurer isn’t bringing to in-house blacksmiths.” Lorcan replied.

  “Until now.” Jaeger pulled out an object and held it up to the blacksmith. “Could you turn this into an arm chain?”

  Lorcan reached forward and took the item, the Spikey Union. Part of its description read that it could be made an accessory, and it was an enchanted chain. So to Jaeger, it seemed almost designed to be made into an arm chain or a weapon. Considering his mythical soul/magic chains, he didn’t need a weapon, so that brought him here.

  “Interesting. This thing speaks of bargains, equality, and arrogance; the latter seeming more a result of its creator than itself.” He held the object and examined it closely. “It has the right ideals and thoughts to be made into an arm chain. Bargains and equality speak to a union of sorts, but the arrogance. That will be tricky.”

  Walking over to his anvil, he slugged down his drink, tossed the mug, and placed the Spikey Union on the anvil. Hoisting his hammer, he tapped the chain three times, a chiming sound coming each time. Satisfied, he stepped back and turned to the bounty hunter.

  “This can be made into an arm chain, and I can even do it now, but there might be downsides. If you’d like me to go ahead anyway, I will, but I feel I must warn you first. Its arrogance could leave it mismatched or even cursed, much like your Armory. I will do what I can to negate that, but I cannot promise a clean magic item.”

  Jaeger finished his drink.

  “I appreciate the warning.”

  “But do it anyway?”

  Jaeger grinned.

  “Yes.”

  Lorcan shook his head, moving back to the anvil. He set to work on the chain, prodding it with his hammer, before stopping and grabbing some additional metals gleaming with a dark red shine. He grabbed the chain and started to weave the metals through it, lengthening and enhancing it. It was fascinating to watch, he molded the metals and chain as easily as Jaeger would string.

  He kept at this for a few moments, twisting the metal around and through, somehow lengthening, then shortening the chain as he did. Until he stopped, held up the chain before his face, gave a small frown, followed by a careful nod, and walked over to Jaeger.

  “I am not satisfied with my work, but the chain refuses to become something more. Its spirit is arrogant and unwilling to go too far.” He handed the chain over. “Interesting, it's script updated itself before I finished, and it seemed almost excited to be used. I also suspect that the creator of the Spikey Union is aware of the changes down to it.”

  That caught Jaeger’s attention.

  “Why and how?”

  “I can’t tell you how, but I imagine the creator is an archmage; they always know more than they should,” Lorcan said with an irritated tone. “The why is easier and obvious once you check its description.”

  So Jaeger did.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Jaeger didn’t know what to make of this. It seemed that not only was the creator aware of the changes made to the Spikey Union, but they seemed to approve.

  “Could be worse.”

  Lorcan smiled.

  “Yes, it could. Aside from the blood binding and the knowledge of your bracelets being sent, this is a fairly simple but useful arm chain. The metal it was made of seemed almost indestructible, and the blood steel I added will make it even more so.”

  “Is the blood steel why I need to Blood Bind it?”

  “No, that is a result of its creator. I added the blood steel to try and offset its more negative qualities.”

  “Is it safe to bind?”

  Lorcan seemed insulted by this, even Jaeger could tell his words had hit a sore spot.

  “Look, I’m not doubting you, but like you said, an archmage might be behind this. I’m just trying to be careful.”

  That seemed to placate the blacksmith, and Jaeger handing him a filled mug didn’t hurt. Taking a drink, the blacksmith let out a deep breath.

  “I understand your concern, but I would never give a finished project that was dangerous.” Lorcan paused, holding the mug before his mouth, and gave a bloodthirsty smile. “At least not to a friend.”

  Jaeger laughed at that.

  “I can respect that. You got a dagger I could use?”

  The goliath raised an eyebrow and gestured around the forge, bladed implements in thousands of styles littered the place. Lorcan took a sip and pointed at the dagger he’d been working on.

  “Not that one, nasty curse on it.”

  The dagger seems to pulse as the pair stare at it, an urge inside the bounty hunter tells him to take the dagger and stab; anyone, everyone, everything. Jaeger shakes his head and ignores the dagger, instead, he finds a stiletto nearby and cuts his hand.

  “Huh, interesting.”

  “What is?”

  “I did not think you would be able to pick up and use a weapon.”

  “The Armory of the Armiger doesn’t let me wield anything that isn’t inside it as weapons, but it doesn’t stop me from picking them up or using them. I tested it a few times, I’m thankful it's not that picky; otherwise, looting would be all but impossible.” Jaeger placed the stiletto down and grabbed the Spikey Union, beginning the blood binding.

  Lorcan nodded and took the bloody stiletto, dropping it into a bucket full of liquid.

  “I can tell your world did not have magic.”

  Jaeger felt a pull from the open wound as blood soaked into the arm chain.

  “Because I didn’t clean the dagger?”

  “Yes, anyone familiar with magic knows that blood is power. You’re lucky I have a bucket of pure alcohol.”

  Jaeger snorted.

  “Good luck to any poor bastard who tries to use my blood. It’s full of poisons and experimental agents from my old world’s charm-chirurgeons. It's barely blood at this point.”

  Lorcan looked hesitantly at the bucket where he’d dropped the dagger. The bounty hunter chuckled.

  “You’d better dump that, the dagger should be fine once you dry it.”